Others may add to, or correct this, but for the most part, stiffness from one brand to another is about the same for the same length mast. In other words, a 400 cm mast will have an stiffness (IMCS) of 19 regardless of brand or carbon content.

Flex may change from brand to brand for the same mast length, but that is becoming more universal than it used to be.

Rtz,
Many small sails have adjustable tops. If your mast is too soft you can let some of the mast out of the top so your sail sits on a stiffer part of the mast.

Techno,

The Nolimitiz Original 400 is 18 IMCS while its Sumo 400 is 19 IMCS. Both masts are 91% carbon with identical mast bends. Stiffness & weight being the difference. I have one of each so I can mix & match tops & bottoms to fit different sail brands.

When you use a small sail, the wind is greater. Do you want to use a mast thatís not optimal. The softest part of the sail is at the top, do you want the softest part sticking out the sail head

Several things that make up how a mast performs are
Carbon content
Carbon orientation, how itís wrapped.
The curve itself, the bottom compared to the top.
One thing to remember when using the wrong mast, you will give up some of the performance designed into the sail, if the sail has a lot to start vs a narrow range, itís not so much.

The shorter mast will be lighter , comparing like carbon content to a longer mast.
The best option on carbon is 90Ė100%. 65 % is the lowest I would use.

Lots of sailors us a longer mast, than whatís recommended, the sail must have a vario top to do this_________________K4 fins
4Boards....May the fours be with you

Which mast length works best for you has a lot to do with your weight. For example, let's compare a guy weighing 140 versus a guy weighing 200. When using a 4.2 sail, the lighter weight guy really needs the 370 mast usually recommended. However, the heavier guy would probably be better off using a stiffer 400 mast and run the extra length out the top using a adjustable top, just as long as it's not too excessive.

With regard to carbon content, I wouldn't recommend going below 75% carbon. For myself, I always go with 90-100% carbon. With any important investment, you are best off getting the highest carbon content product because its weight, performance and handling characteristics are optimized. In smaller sails it's less noticeable, but moving to larger sails the differences are actually quite significant.

In my view, masts are a key component that often last for many many years, and they can used through many different sail quivers over time. It's definitely not a area where I would recommend taking the cheap route.

Within reason, mast stiffness is another personal choice. Bigger, more powerful, guys often fare best with stiffer masts, while lighter people and those who simply prefer to sail very efficiently (i.e., on the smallest sail that will get them planing fairly often) can get by with softer masts.

Once again, you're asking for fairly precise answers to issues that cannot be answered so easily. I hope you're not typing when there's ANY chance of getting in some rides.

Been there done that got the Tee Shirt.
I ve seen many times that a heavier sailor can use a longer,( stiffer mast ).

I donít see that the sail knows the weight of the sailor, the sail is designed for a particular length, anything other than that , is a option, and subject to length that can be accommodated, the mast doesnít know how much someone weights either, using a longer mast changes where the sail bleeds off, and hampers the performance, enough to make it a POS , prob not, it depends on how much you can give up Ins range and performance categories.

You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forumYou can attach files in this forumYou can download files in this forum